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Contact: Liz Carroll
Phone: 413/775-1420
E-mail: carroll@gcc.mass.edu

Media contact: Liz Carroll
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413/775-1420 | carroll@gcc.mass.edu

Release date: April 25, 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Barbara Wallace appointed to Greenfield Community College governing board

Barbara J. Wallace, Senior Vice President of The Bank of Western Massachusetts, has been appointed by Governor Mitt Romney to serve as a trustee of Greenfield Community College. "Barbara Wallace brings to GCC a valuable background that combines business and education,” says GCC President Robert L. Pura. "She has taught college students and, like so many GCC students, Barbara returned to college herself as part of a mid-life career change, so she knows what it means to pursue a dream. She has a wonderful capacity to envision alliances that encompass the whole community, which fits in perfectly with our philosophy of being the community's college.”

Barbara Wallace joined The Bank of Western Massachusetts in 1989 and moved to Franklin County in 2000, when The Bank of Western Massachusetts acquired Greenfield's United Savings Bank. Wallace has helped the bank grow from 30 people in 1989 to almost 200 today. "It's been a fantastic opportunity to try different things. This Bank was founded by an entrepreneur, so we're very empathetic with businesses.”

Wallace's background as an educator continues with her participation in the annual Women in Business Conference at Mt. Holyoke College, something The Bank of Western Massachusetts President Timothy Crimmins supports. "We're huge believers in education,” says Wallace. "It's the American way, the ticket. And if you look at the Pioneer Valley, you'll see that we are an academic Pioneer Valley.”

Wallace reacted with alarm when Greenfield Community College's existence was threatened by a proposed merger with Holyoke Community College two years ago. "I was ready to stand in the street and hold a sign,” says Wallace. "I feel very strongly that Franklin County deserves to be represented with a community college. It's a long, long way to Holyoke, so GCC's really worth fighting for.”

Wallace looks forward to working with GCC's governing board and with President Pura. "He's very clear-thinking, and he can say strong and difficult things in a soft way, but so that it's heard,” Wallace says. "I think he's also a great alliance-builder. He's a new person to the community, just as I am, and he's already building alliances. I think he has great vision: I've had conversations with him about housing for students. That would expand the possibilities for other people to be at GCC. He thinks about everything from every angle, and I like that.

"Rural people are very isolated, but very motivated,” says Wallace, "and they need the kind of flexibility that a community college offer.” Wallace would like to see GCC move ahead in the development of online courses, corporate internships, and curriculums that recognize what nontraditional students bring to higher education in terms of work and life experience. "I'm grateful, humbled by this opportunity to serve Greenfield Community College.”

For more information, please call Liz Carroll at (413) 775-1420.